metal halide pendant

arcprolife · 12/12/2009, 01:03 PM

I have a 20 gallon tall tank and I just added a HQI pendant from Coralife and my tank looks very dim. I had on power compacts and the whole tank was very bright so I was surprised that the metal halide looked so dim. My clam seems happy with the pendant hanging over his spot but I find the corners of the tank to be somewhat dark. Is this normal for halide lighting. I assumed since it is suppose to be better lighting for things like clams that it would be brighter. I dont really understand how lumens work but is this a case where even though it appears there is less light in my tank, my animals will thrive better with this kind of light. Sorry if this is explained somewhere else I just did not see it. I read about the shimmer effect but I was very shocked at how my tank looks now after I have waited so long to upgrade to metal halides.

12/12/2009, 01:03 PM	#1
arcprolife Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Grand Rapids Michigan Posts: 52	metal halide pendant I have a 20 gallon tall tank and I just added a HQI pendant from Coralife and my tank looks very dim. I had on power compacts and the whole tank was very bright so I was surprised that the metal halide looked so dim. My clam seems happy with the pendant hanging over his spot but I find the corners of the tank to be somewhat dark. Is this normal for halide lighting. I assumed since it is suppose to be better lighting for things like clams that it would be brighter. I dont really understand how lumens work but is this a case where even though it appears there is less light in my tank, my animals will thrive better with this kind of light. Sorry if this is explained somewhere else I just did not see it. I read about the shimmer effect but I was very shocked at how my tank looks now after I have waited so long to upgrade to metal halides.